The Midnight Visitor

1.0About the Author

Robert Arthur Jr. was a writer of speculative fiction known for his work with The Mysterious Traveler radio series and for writing The Three Investigators, a series of young adult novels. Arthur was honoured twice by the Mystery Writers of America with an Edgar Award for Best Radio Drama. He also wrote scripts Alfred Hitchcock's TV show, Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Central Idea

The story is highlighting the theme of wisdom where it is more powerful than other weapons. Ausable was different from other secret agents and had something precious than others. The theme also adds that one should not judge a person by his appearance. Ausable is fat and lazy but he is the most intelligent in the story. Through his presence of mind, Ausable was able to get rid of his rival, Max.

2.0The Witty Secret Agent

This story is about the witty secret agent Ausable. A writer Fowler planned to spend his time in the evening to meet a secret agent and write. Then Fowler realized that Ausable is exactly the opposite of what he had imagined about him. They went to his room on the sixth floor of the hotel. Ausable told Fowler that he had been thinking wrong about him that he would be with dark-eyed beauties dealing with danger and very soon he would be looking at a very important report which would affect the history.

3.0The Mystery

The report was being brought that night concerning about the missiles. While this talk was going on, someone was continuously knocking at the door. Ausable started with a story about a hypothetical balcony below the window of his room.

The doorknob turned in loud, Max jumps out of the window and they heard a loud scream as he dropped. The waiter comes in and says that he has brought the wine that Ausable had ordered. He set the bottle, tray and glasses there on the table and left. Fowler is surprised after seeing all that. Fowler stared and asked him about the police. Then Ausable replied that there were no police.

4.0Let's Recall

• The story is about a witty secret agent named Ausable.
• He was with a writer named Fowler throughout the evening as Fowler who was interested in spending time with a secret agent but when he spends time with Ausable he realizes that he is exactly the opposite of what he had imagined and that he became bored.
• Ausable then told Fowler that he had been thinking wrong and soon he would be looking at a report that would be having a change in the history.
• Then Ausable takes Fowler to his room and when they entered the room a guy with an automatic pistol named Max was standing in the room.
• Ausable asked them to be comfortable until the reports about the missiles arrived in 30 minutes as Max was there to have a hold over the reports.
• This was the first authentic thrill out of the day as Fowler had expected when he had thought of meeting a secret agent.
• Ausable started with a story about the hypothetical balcony saying, how a guy had entered from the balcony last month below his room.
• While this talk was going on, a sudden knock was heard at the door. Ausable said that it must be the police as he wanted them to check on him after sometime because he wanted to make the reports a more extra secure.
• Max, twisted his body and pointing his gun towards them, said that he would be waiting in the balcony and that Ausable should send away the police otherwise he would shoot them.
• The doorknob turned, Max jumps out of the window and a loud scream is heard. The door opens and a waiter comes in and says that he has brought the wine that Mr. Ausable had ordered.
• He set the bottle, tray and glasses on the table and left. Fowler was surprised and asks him about the police to which Ausable replied that there were no police. Then Fowler asked what about the person who was waiting in the balcony outside the window to which Ausable replied that the person would not return at all.
• This shows the quick wit of Ausable as he took advantage of the situation and made Max nervous.
• Max had jumped from the top floor of the hotel and would have possibly died. This is how Ausable outwitted Max and saved himself from a very dangerous situation.